LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

This project serves two purposes but one very important one. I have managed to get my son involved with minimal threats and other persuasion. Woohoo. Happy times. I love spending time with my boy and this is just pure joy for me. Not sure if he is as enthused. But hopefully he will remember this fondly when he is older.

It is basically a simple wooden lamp that I have filled with solar powered LED string lamps. The local chain hardware sells them for $12 for a string of 100 lamps. The solar panel is mounted in the top.

I have searched long and hard for a simple project to get my boy started in WW. This is what I came up with. And it has worked well. The project is broken down into easy and quick steps. I set up each stage, run him through it and let him go; except for anything fiddly. At the moment the angled mitres for the corners of lamp case are done on a table saw. When I can build a jig that will keep the fingers away he can do that part too. Everything else is straight forward but except for sanding I oversea all work.

The goal is to sell a few which will hopefully add to Dan's enthusiasm. We are nearly finished two more which have been snapped up already.

The big change for the next versions is two bigger holes in each side to let more light get out. Let you know how that goes soon.

An interesting feature is the mitred corners of the top. I cut a slot across each corner and then filled each slot with red coloured resin. I had to tape up the down sides to keep the shape but it worked pretty well. It also serves to reinforce the butt joins.

The second purpose is to use some 'waste' timber. The wood is recovered hardwood from an old fence. The fence was over 50 years old and very worn but mills up lovely. The sections and widths are a bit thin for most projects but I panelled two together for each side. Even though each piece is about 2 metres (8 foot) long, age has twisted them severely. The milling revealed some lovely coloured timber and the aging gives the finished lamp great texture. The finish is wipe-on poly.

If anyone has any other projects that I can inspire my son with, or use some old fence pailings to make let me know.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,434 Posts
Very nice results. Good job getting your son in the shop. As my son approaches his teens, he has been less interested in shop projects.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
7,023 Posts
Neat project and good to see you and your son getting quality time together.

Suggestion for future builds. Vary the angle of the holes, could be random or could all be 10 degrees as example. Gives off a very unique light. Bet with the colors it would be enhanced greatly.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,567 Posts
Cool lamp!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers, Jim
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3 Posts
Keep at it with your son. I am trying the same with mine and while they show limited interest at this point I hope that some day in the future maybe after I am long gone the smell of fresh cut wood will remind them of me.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6,567 Posts
Hopes that your Son stays with you in the shop. My best childhood memories are with my Dad, and his Brother out in the shop.

Love the piece, as a garden feature it would bring in some nighttime color.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6,114 Posts
Really nice lamp, fine work. lovely at night.
Your son will know that later in life, we can never waste any of the energy we put in our kids.
Lucky boy, to have you.
Smiles,
Mads
 
Top